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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 26Pt. 4Ch. 4Art. 3.5§ 42420 Air Quality Penalty Alternatives

§ 42420 Air Quality Penalty Alternatives

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 42420 Air Quality Penalty Alternatives

Key Takeaways

  • •Big punishments should match big problems. Small mistakes shouldn’t get huge fines or jail time.
  • •If a mistake doesn’t make the air dirtier or hide bad pollution, there should be other ways to fix it besides just fines or jail.
  • •The law wants fair rules—don’t punish people too hard for little things.

Example

A small shop forgets to check their air filter on time, but it doesn’t cause any extra pollution.

Instead of getting a big fine, the shop might just get a warning or a chance to fix it without punishment.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 42420 Air Quality Penalty Alternatives

The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows: (a)  District enforcement programs should be prioritized to ensure that the imposition of civil and criminal penalties is commensurate with the severity of the violation. (b)  Districts shall endeavor to establish, where appropriate, alternatives to civil or criminal penalties for those circumstances in which the violation neither contributes to, nor potentially conceals, an emission that significantly contributes to unhealthful air quality. (Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1028, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1994.)

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

enforcementpollutionviolationemissionhealthlegislaturefinequality

Related Statutes

  • § 39619 Fine Particle Air Quality
  • § 128296 Maternity Care Provider Shortage
  • § 39701 Air Pollution Research Coordination
  • § 42321 Business Air Permit Efficiency
  • § 42402 Environmental Violation Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 42420.
View Official Source